Kasturi Manjal as an Effective Anti Acne Treatment

I am writing this review keeping Rauni in mind. I had mentioned somewhere on IMBB that Kasturi Manjal was good for prevention of acne. Rauni was interested and asked for a review, so here I am, reviewing Kasturi Manjal, whose botanical name is Curcuma aromatica.

Kasturi Manjal is different from the turmeric that we use in cooking (Curcuma longa) in many ways. One major difference is that it does not stain that heavily as opposed to the turmeric which is used for cooking.

I had seen my cousin sister using Kasturi Manjal from her garden on her face to prevent pimples. When I searched for Kasturi Manjal locally, I found Banjara’s brand selling it, but I am not very fond of Banjara’s face packs, so I skipped that. I looked at shops selling ayurvedic medicines and I found this pack of powdered Kasturi manjal. Other good brand to pick up kasturi manjal from is the Kottakal Arya Vaidyshala, which sells genuine manjal.

A Little Information about Kasthuri Manjal (Curcuma aromatica):

Curcuma aromatica is called Kasthuri manjal in malayalam and in Sanskrit it is called as Vanaharidra. It is used in making cosmetics, especially against pimples. It is also believed to be an effective fairness agent (I have not used it that regularly, so not so sure about that, but there are people who vouch that kasturi manjal has made them fair). Curcuma aromatica’s paste is applied on body to get protection against skin diseases. It is also believed that it also reduces hair growth, although the claim is not supported scientifically. Turmeric is a great antiseptic and perhaps that explains its effectiveness in preventing acne and other kind of fungal and skin diseases. The powder of kasturi manjal can be used for face treatments and in face packs against acne and blemishes.

I couldn’t find the container where I stored the manjal, I am posting the picture of an almost-empty packet 🙁

My Experience with Kasturi Pasupu Choornam/Kasturi Manjal:

Kasturi Pasupu Choornam is the telugu name for kasturi manjal. I picked up this packet from an Ayurvedic pharmacy and it is manufactured by the Ayurvedic Shastric Medicine. This choornam or powder comes in a 100 gm packet, which costs only Rs. 56, pretty cheap for a product that is so effective in preventing acne and that too without any preservatives or chemicals. There are no other ingredients in this packet except the powdered turmeric and there are absolutely no other preservatives, which means if you don’t transfer the contents to another lid container, the powder might catch moisture. I had transferred almost 75% of the packet’s content into a plastic container, which I am unable to find right now, so I am putting a picture of an almost-empty packet:cry:

This Kasturi Manjal powder is a very potent and strong antiseptic and antibacterial agent. There are some days when I have been really lazy with my skin cleansing routine and the next day I notice a bout of acne. At that time, as an instant anti-acne treatment, I mix this Kasturi Manjal with two tablespoons of curd or besan (chickpea flour) and apply it as a smooth paste. Please do note that it stings like hell:yikes: and if you skip mixing it with curd, you will feel as if your whole face is on fire!!!!

So, be sure that you are either mixing it with curd or honey before it goes on to your face. Most importantly, people with sensitive skin BEWARE. I have seen people who are allergic to turmeric, so doing a patch test on a single pimple or an area on your arm is important.

Coming back to my own experience, after keeping the paste for around 15 minutes, I wash it off without much yellow stain left on my face. It does brighten the face a bit and my grandmother says if I do this regularly, I can become fair, but I am too lazy to do this on a regular basis and no, I don’t want to become fair at the cost of giving up on my laziness :nababana: :mirror:

Okay, so by the next morning, I noticed that almost all of the zits have disappeared. So, I know that this is my one-wonder drug without any salicyclic acid or benzoyl peroxide that can cure acne as effectively as these or better. However, if the acne attack is really severe, it may take up to 3 days of continuous application to get completely acne-free.

Having suffered from the side effects of strong anti-acne drugs and medicines, I am using kasturi manjal for acne treatment, which is a complete natural treatment without any preservative.

Pros of Kasturi Manjal/Kasturi Pasupu Choornam:

An effective anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent which prevents acne.

It does not stain like the turmeric that we use for cooking.

Kasturi Manjal does not have any preservatives or chemical agents that might prove harmful or lead to hormonal imbalances in the future.

Regular use of Kasturi Manjal improves skin tone and complexion (just remember the clause that you must not be superlazy like me!). :teeth

Easily available in local ayurvedic stores and can be grown in your backyard without any significant effort.

Potent anti-acne treatment.

Believed to be effective in reducing facial hair (again, this, scientifically has not been proven).

Cons of Kasturi Manjal/Kasturi Pasupu Choornam:

Some people might be allergic to turmeric, so it is advised to first do a patch test on an emerging pimple or an arm to check sensitivity.

People with sensitive skin BEWARE. Since this is such a strong antiseptic agent, Kasturi Manjal should either be mixed in curd, chickpea flour, or honey in a paste form. If used alone, it might sting the skin badly.

Since most of the time, it comes in a packet, transferring it to a container with lid is important so that it does not catch moisture.

If the acne is in the cystic form, it may take 3 days of continuous and religious application to clear off the acne.

So, all you ladies, who are suffering from acne and are scared of the side effects of anti-acne drugs and medicines, do “try this at home,” and there might be a little stinging, but then that’s okay, that is how Kasturi Manjal works, but please do a patch test before it goes on your face.

hawww….I was feeling so ashamed of putting an empty packet Rati…I can’t find that dabba where I had stored it, I doubt Aarohan threw it out……this two spoons of turmeric I scooped out from the baccha kucha packet…… :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa:

ah yes…….Rati….I forgot to tell you na…….he has started throwing car keys and bike keys out of the house…he tries to open the car with the key, but when the door does not open, he throws the key out of the gate…..our padosi’s are kind enough to pick them up and return :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa:

Hi Jomol…
Great review. .. Since a keralite i used this one a lot in my teenage, as it was available abundantly in my garden… :yahoo: But now i dont have time to make the paste and use it , so i use dhatris kasthuri manjal and its quite good… :waytogo: :waytogo: …

Heyyy…Jomolayyy..you can buy ultracheapish kasturi manjal from these small local shops in Kerala…so much they will give for Rs. 10. Don’t buy the pre-powdered versions – I have read that they just grind the manjal in a regular grinder where other powders like chili powder, etc., might have been ground and that is why you get the burning/stinging. For a long time I used to think that I have turmeric sensitivity..and even now..I would never ever use the powdered versions. I got the dried turmeric roots – katuri manjal one – from some shop in Kerala and used to grind it on a stone like how you would do for sandalwood. It didn’t burn..but I got too lazy to use it 😐 But anywayyys ..that’s not contaminated with other powders na so it doesn’t burn.

Oh and do you know Ulsoor market? In the entrance to the market, the first few shops sell pooja stuff and some dried herbs like you know that reeta rita something you can wash hair with …those kind of stuff…you might find kasturi manjal there too..

Ya..most places..even for cosmetic purposes when they grind they might not be keeping separate dedicated machine for it..which is why there is a chance of mixing up…not that I know that is the case with wherever she bought from..but just a possibility..so it’s always safer to buy the dried roots and grind it yourself if you have a mixer capable of that kind of grinding (and have to keep a separate jar for it) or just grind little little for one time use on a stone 😀

I am growing na Rads….I am growing both aloe vera and kasturi manjal in my backyard….whenever you come to my place, I will sell little aloe vera in a dabba for Rs. 150…buha buha…

this raw one also stings Rads…….no chilli powder I mix in them :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa:

but I agree with your view Rads….like a whole lot of cosmetic preparations must be like that only……When I was going to buy that rakthachandan na, my mom said no….they might have mixed some brick powder because they were selling it real cheap….. :waiting: :waiting: :waiting: :waiting:

Seeeeeeeeeeeeeee…you take raw from garden naa..how do you grind it??? Your mixer might have remaining fish ka mirchi paste in it…and that must have got mixed with your haldi hehehhahahhahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…I won I won I won 😀 😀

I don;t grind it radsu…there is a little granite stone….just a little bit of hit with a stone is enough to get the stain out of it….no fish chilli paste wala bartan i use….you only make your Lush ka dupes in your sambar grind kiya wala mixer :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:

Ohoooo…you try drying and then using…and no smashing with stone…:headbang:…you dry it…and that dried root na you just do like you would do for sandalwood. I somehow feel it’s not supposed to be put on skin raw like that….I don’t know why 😐 😐

It is used in raw form only…..like morning morning you get up….drink chai….brush your teeth :teeth :teeth :teeth :teeth :teeth :teeth :teeth go into the small garden….pluck the kasturi manjal…wash it under the tap, get one stone, hit it on the turmeric, some juice will come out, put it on the pimple…. :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: so much step by step i have explained…. 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐

We make pickle out of this :toothygrin: :toothygrin:
I used to apply this daily in the night during college days and in the morning would look all yellowish and even after washing my face it still showed up….stopped applying when one of my colleagues inquired if I have jaundice as I was looking more and more yellow each day :stars: :stars: :stars:
But I totally agree that it does heal pimples and gives a nice glow plus it has antiseptic qualities and it very good for skin :waytogo: :waytogo:

yeshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…that onlyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…thatttttttt onlllllllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehehheheheheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee……….the malayalam masterjiii is snoring naa so I wrote english version. I knew you will get it 😀 😀

Oh….Rati and Noopuriiiiiiiiii….I tho called her chakki in malayalam…..it’s like chakki is one happy go lucky woman….and she meets one chankaran….both of them have same demeanour, so matching matching…..something like jaise to taisa……arre…maaf karo…I no translate anything….I no mean dirty way Rads 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥

I have tried the chemicals for a long time,Jomol. Many of the times it didn wok.:huh: I gave the ‘naturals’ a chance. several of them didn work. but this was the 1 that didnt disappoint me. :happydance:

NO that cream is not good….dont; try Noopuriiiiii……if you buy….gimme….gimme your coastal scent ka things…..your other samaan….wait, I make an inventory of your samaan…accordingly you can give it to me :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

He he I know rads….it’s called kasthuriman na….I had a hindi kavitha in school where they described the deer hunting for its own scent which was hidden in its navel….but then na…navel par kyon…..it should be hidden in underarm only na……. :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes:

Yeah Vid….get it from there, most genuine product you can find there…….use it continously every day or may be once in two days and you can easily see the difference….hope it helps :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot:

You are welcome Visakhi….and thanks so much for appreciating….actually my maternal grandmother’s father was an ayurvedic vaidyar or doctor and my grandmother was like an ayurvedic encylopedia…..there was nothing that she didn’t know the remedy of

jomooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: finallyyy kar dala reviewwwwww….sounds so awsumely awsum but u know the sad part i wont gte this here anywhere.it sucks.nor can i plant it nor will i get this is the ayurvedic stores here.i dint even get witchhazel which nu recomended for a toner.

and yes i know the pian which comes with using things like benzyl peroxide.uffff :nonono: :nonono: :nonono: :nonono:

You can try local shops that try this dried amla shikakai reetha stuff na rauni…..this does a whole lot of good…..and you should definitely to go the doctor which Nupurrrrrrrrrrri is recommending…..if there is something that can be fixed within the system, its great na…… :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot:

jomo.see i have heard of turmeric application for better skin but as u wrote this seems to be the right kind of it.the base formulation and even though i take derma treatmnet ya kuch bhi.i would prefer and continue using my herbal remedies.they stand a place above anyway.like even with the presnet derma treatmnet i apply a neem-multani mitti pack every
other day. :shy:

yeah, rauni continue it….you know these benzoyl peroxides and salicyclics do get absorbed via the skin into the body and they can be harmful if continued for a long period of time I feel…..even if turmeric and such herbal remedies which are natural get absorbed into the body via the skin na….even then it does a whole lot of good since its an antiseptic……you tho have a hard time getting such stuff na rauni, but I am tho plain lazy to apply it even after knowing all the benefits and then I can get it also from kerala through someone….wait if someone comes from kerala na…I will ask to get extra, and send it to you too :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot:

Shirley, I think you have these stores everywhere in the local market where they sell dried herbs and stuff na…..like dried amla, shikakhai and reetha…there if you ask, they will most probably have…..otherwise ask any malayalee around…they might know O:)

Thankoo Dimpi….. :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: Yes Dimpi it does, but then daily application is like compulsory…..I don’t do this daily…only when I have a lot of acne, that time, I apply the paste…otherwise if done religiously, it does wonder….

i use a facepack which is kasturi manjal mixed with sandalwood and crushed almonds…
it doesnt sting dat way..
and yes it doesnt leave a heavy yellow cast but does leave slight yellow.. which me no likes.. so i sometimes use as spot treatment on newly arrived pimples.. it really works well in drying them up and healing them :)) :teddy: :teddy: :teddy:

heyya jomol tried checking with local veggie vendors???? I buy mangal blocks frm them . It comes for 3 rs. per small stick & then mix it in milk back home. Iy takes like 10mins to get the paste with milk but its worth it 🙂 Used to try the packet powdered ones but then some one told me that they grind it in the same grinders as our normal spices like chilly powder, pepper powder 🙁 Its been a month with this stick mangal & its awesome 😀

The color of real kasthuri manjal powder is cream. most of the people don;t know this thing
in the market we can get it curcuma zedoary ( manzhakoova ), its easily available any where in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamilnadu.

Hi,
I have been using kasturi manjal from 3 days and I have a sensitive skin with acne.I mixed with sandalwood paste and lemon juice….after 3 days my acne got dried but my skin has become reddish and burning sensation.I used to apply this paste whole night and remove it in the morning. Please help me with correct procedure of applying kasturi manjal .If I use curd I’ll get pimples as my skin is oily too.

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